Liquid sampling device



June 6, 1950 E. D. RAPISARDA 2,510,657

LIQUID SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS June 6, 1950 E. D. RPISARDA 2,510,657

LIQUID SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY q# @ad ATToRN Ys Patented June 6, 1 950V to Gilbert & Barker-YfManufacturingColpany, West Springfield,v `sllflass., f. a.l .fcorporation :nf

; yMassachusetts Application December 14, 194,8, sena-'13655121 5 Claims.V fCl. 752-4254) This invention relates 4to -an improved device for sampling liquids from containers.

The invention is especially useful in taking samples from ta-nks, suchlaslstorage tanksfwhich are-of considerable depth and -in which the contentsstratify.y In the-oi1"industry,gfor example, crude aoil '-st-ratifies fin a storage; tank and-the contents ofthetank are not homogeneous at different levels.

The object of this invention is to provide anuimproved sampling device; which is o'f-sirnplefand inexpensive construction and A'which is easily i operated to`-obtain a representative sample ofith'e entire body of liquid in afstorage tank.

Another vv'object of"` the invention is Yto provide a -liquidsampling Ydevice for the purpose vclescribed and so constructed that thevaccurlacyvof samplingis not 'aiected byvariations inyviscosity of the liquid or by variations -in hydraulic head.

YMore particularly, the invention has for any object .to provide a sampling receptacle, having at opposite ends thereof cylinders, through which and the intervening receptacle 'extends a'long member having thereon a large number of longitudinallyspa'ced pistons toV slidably lit the cyle;

inders. 'r Such member is a'daptedvto be mounted so as to extend'througnthe' liquid in a'storage tank andl the receptacle .withaits 'cylinders is adapted to slide downwardly on the member vso that volumes-'of liquid in ythe, tank are successively-l trapped between successivepistons and delivered throughthe lower cylinder into-the receptacle and so that `like volumes "of'air or 'other Huid from therreceptacle are successively trapped and delivered'through the upper cylinder out intokv the'storage tank., i

These objects will best be understood from the detailed description of one"il1 ustrative example of the invention with reference to the accom panying drawings, in which:

plingdevice embodying the invention shownin sampling position in andV near the bottom of a liquid' storage tank;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the sampling device' shown in position ijor emptyingi the `sample of liquid taken from; the tank;

` Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views illustrative'of'different Ways of constructing thev piston-carrying member on which the sampling receptacle is'slidable;

.-2 ceptacle thereon `and-enalcale the receptacle to be lifted `from the tank-by pulling upwardly on such member;

Fig; 7-isl a fragmentary sectional elevational `View showing a venting device v-for-optionaluse with the-samplingereceptacle; n

Figs f'8- is a I'sideq elevational lView of a device for s1.15136ridingy the yflta-ltilfole-Inenbei in a tank and for i'etainingfthesarfnpling receptacle from movelm'ent-on such member;

Fig. 9 is -a -topfplanviewshowing two such suspending dev'icesand a windlass for use in raising the sampling receptacle from-the tank; and

`'1i'gs; Y10 to I5 inclusive are' 'diagrammatical views* illustrating successive Ysteps in the operation of thesarpling dev-ice.

Referring to these drawings and -rst to Fig- 1 thereof; the sampling dev-ice comprises a receptacle l toreceive-the sample with .coaxial 'cylin- .ders'Z and 3, one at each of two `cx'pposite'ends of the receptacle, and a longitudinal series of interconnected pistons 4, on which-the 'cylinders 2 f and 3 are sliclablel and by means of which volumes of liquid from-the tank Vto be sampled are delivered throughv the lower cylinder 21 into the sampling receptacle I and-.volmesfof air Afrom the receptacle 'are delivieredA through the upper cylinder 3`out intoY the tank.

The receptacle I may be of anyY suitable shape.

`Conveniently it is formed by a cylindrical tube 5 withcaps 'or heads Ii and vI-, threaded one on ea'chgjof two `opposite:ends thereof and acting to clamp gaskets, BandI 9 respectively against the endsof the cylinder yto maketig'ht joints. The

,tubular posts^|0 and 'I I, which are anged and ...Q40 `lig. 1k is a sectional elevational view of 'a sam-YV Fig; 6 is anjelevationaljview 'of a .stop device I for1attaclrmrent;vtok thepston-carrying member in order to limit the movement or the sampling 'ref ess cylinders k2 ,and` 3 are .conveniently formed `in threaded near one 'end to screw into caps 6 and 1, respectively, and which act to-clarnp gaskets I2 and; lvagainst the caps 6 and I, respectively, to form tight joints. The receptacle I' isv thus 'tightlyclosed except for'th'epas's'ages through the two eyunders :and 3.y These cylinders 2V and 3 Inayf ifv desired; be provided lwith linings v lll andjlrespectively, of suitable resilient andoil'- proofumateriaksu'ch as syntheticrubber, foi-ex` amplearid the pistons have a close but sliding t with `these linings; A"The lngthof each cylinder must 'atleast be slightly greater than# the center to center'distance between successive pis` tonsand preferably such length several times said distance, the more veffectively tonse'al-the receptaclei'against` the entrance or discharge'of fluidjexdept whenA tliec'ylinder's and `pistons are relatively movdl "'Theiterconnected*pistons are adapted to be can readily be suspended from the top of the tankl and extend vertically downward to the bottom of the tank. However, the flexible member could be stretched between two points in the tank and extend in a downward incline from the uppery to the lower of these points. Also the piston-carrying member could be rigid although that is acides? between two successive pistons. Other like vol-v umes of liquid are successively trapped in the cylinder 2, as the receptacle continues to slide downwardly, and are successively delivered from this cylinder into the receptacle I as the upper end of the cylinder passes below each pair of pistons which carry liquidbetween them. As each such Volume of liquid enters the receptacle I, a corresponding Volume of air is carried out of the receptacle into the upper cylinder 3 between other pairsno pistons 4 and liberated into tank i9; In this way, volumes of liquid are taken at not generally as convenient and desirable a form,` i

especially for tanks of great depth.

In Fig. 8 there is shown one example of how the flexible piston-carrying member may be suspended. This member is suspended by its Iuppermost piston 4 (for the exact detail see Fig.V l)V from a'bracket I1, xedtoa wall I3, Ysuitably attached to the top ofv a tankY I9 tobe sampled and overlying an opening'Zl in such tank. In the bracket I1 (Fig. 9,) is a slot 2l wide enough to receive one of the connecting links I5 but Ytoo Y narrow to allow passagev of a piston 4. VBelow bracket Il and fixed to wall I S is a second bracket 22 for supporting thevsampling receptacle. The lower end of tube Irests on top of the bracket 22 and there is a slot inv this bracket wide enough to allow passage of the pistons but too narrow to allow passage of tube I0. For deep tanks, it may be necessary to provide a small weight, such as is shown at 23 in Fig. 1, to

counteract the lifting force exerted on the lowermost piston 4 in the lower cylinder 2 by the hydraulic head of the liquid in the tank and tending to force it upwardly in the lower cylinder 2. As shown, this weight is cast around a standard clip, having an eye 24 and connected by two spaced arms 25 to a semi-spherical shell 2B, having a slot 2l. This shell rests on top of the lowest ball-like piston 4 with the link I6 engaged inslot 2l. A similar weight 28 and attaching clip 29 are preferably provided for the upper piston 4 for reasons which will later be explained in detail.- l

With the piston-carrying member arranged in the storage tank as described, the sampling is effected by simply `allowing the sampling receptacle I to slide down on such member. For example, one may move the receptacle to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, until it is free of the bracket 22 and then release it, whereupon it will slide downwardly on the piston-carrying member untilY its lower end is arrested -by the abutment ofthe i lower end face of tube Il) with the clip 25. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be clear that asthe receptacle l slides downwardly over the series of interconnected ball-like pistons 4, the leading end of the receptacle, the tube I, will enter the liquid and cut oi the volume of liquid between the rst two pistons which are submerged. This volume of liquid does not move but the cylinder moves down over it until such volume is trapped in the lower cylinder 2. This volume is equal to that of a cylinder having the same outside diameter as a piston 4 and a height equal to the center to center distance between two successive pistons, minus the Volume of a sphere of the same diameter as the piston minus the volume'of the cylinder comprising the portion of link I6 exposed A a largenumber of levels in the tank and a fairly representative sample of the liquid in the tank is had, suflicientlyfso for all practical purposes.

When the sample has been taken by allowing the receptacle toslide down the piston-carrying member to' the bottom of the tank, the receptacle `is lifted out of the tank and emptied. This may be done by pulling up on the piston-carrying member by hand. @mehr .ether .Suitable Way- After the recepaienas. been. removed from the..

tank, the clip 26 is detached fromthe lowermost ball 4 to allow the receptacle to slide downwardly until all the balls 4 vhave passed out of cylindery 2 into the receptacle, or as indicated vin Fig. 2. The lowermost ball may be connected by a link 3B with a small ball chain comprising balls 3|n and links 32, interconnecting successive balls 3I. v

The latter are of less diameter than cylinder 2 and the liquid in the receptacle can be poured out through the lower cylinderV 2 as a nozzle into a suitable receptacle. vTo prevent the lower end of chain 3l, 32 from being entirely pulled into the cylinder, a large ball 33 is provided on the end of this small chain. The chain3l, 32- preferably passes -throughthe opening between the side armsv 25, the clip 26 and weight 23 so that the weight and stop clip 26 will always be available l v for use.

clip or its weight will abut the lower end of tube I0 and prevent the chain 3 I, 32 from being drawn Either the` ball 33 on some part of the too far into the lower cylinder.

VTheuppermost Vball 4 may also be connected i by a link 34 to aV small ball chain comprising balls 35 and links 36 interconnecting them. This small chain terminates with a large ball 31 and, like the other small chain, is Vthreaded .through the space between the clip 29, its Weight 28 and arms which interconnect 29 and 28.. These provisions enable thek sampling device to .be reversed, if desired. For example, having .taken a sample as above which carries the weight 23, ywhereby the receptacle will be inverted and can slide down the member until itis arrested by thelclip 29.

mounted on support I8,.to assistin raising. the sampling receptacle. This windlass may. consistl of a wheel 38, vformed to receive a ball chain, such as that afforded by the interconnected pistons 4 described, and a crank 39 for turning the wheel 38. Adjacent the brackets Il and 22, there may be two other corresponding brackets Il and 22.

The sampling operation, just described, is illus- Y trated in' Figs. l0 and 11 at the start and at the end, respectively. The piston-carrying member is suspended frombracket I'I bymeans of the clip129 and the ball 4, which it` engages, and the rewceptacleis supported by bracket The The usefulness of this arrangement will best l. appear from a considerationk of the diagrams inl Figs. 10 to l5, inclusive. A. windlass is shown,

7 area. to. slidably anthems.lonportlonsandiwhsah. alle; :at least; asrgreatin; length; as.' thellellg he tween successive .piston portions; said. resptale; beingclosed except Vfor said ylindersnsaid, ref.- Ceptale adapted turbe. mounted 0.1.1A seldpmelnbel.: :s with the latter extending through the, tgp pylin-A der.. said .chambenand .the bgttonyllldeli? with the eyundersslidably; engaging@ Suseesll; piston portionsasthe receptacle slides downj; wardly onA said member-; I whereby volume/sA on liqf uid between successive.: pieten @Grimes be., successively carried Vinto an through i'iheilower/ cylinder land delivered intosaid chamber..as-theA receptacle Slides dQWnWardlXQB lhQmQIIPWHQSL wherebyyolumes of easbetweenuceessye Piton portions kWill be successiye1y.carried ,o n chamberv throuelrthe uppencrlnderalld let the; container- .'Llff f 5, .i

-.3. A device for samplingv liquids,comprising,.a member adapted .to bepqsitigeed 11,1, Mentale@ of the liquid to be sampled hsonthat-"it `extend downwardly threushffthe :liquidi -l- FEW-0. A; having along its length ua series of longitudinally-iA spaced piston portionsl .whichareof thesanie cross.'V sectional shape and area, and-fother'poijt ns Yf'. less-cross sectional area locatedonefbetween each pair of successivegpiston portions;V ar'eceptacl'e consistingofv a peripheral Wall and top v and v bottom-walls at the ends'of 'the peripheral wall,"said walls affording-between-them A.a fchamber, fsaid, 305..

endV walls having cylindersV one` ineach .which `are;1 ofthesame crosssectional sl'iapeand areal'and fn a shape V.and area .to vslidably. fit ..the` pistongp. r-J. tions and whichareat least as great inlength as, the spacing vbetween successive .piston portions; said receptacle being'closedexcept.OrsaidcyIine. dersf said receptacle adapted.` to ,be mounted.V on? said 'member with the` latter extending through. the top WalLsaidfchamber andthe bottom cy1in der and with the cylinders slidably'engagingthe,V successive piston portions. as. .the..receptacle. slides downwardly on said member; whereby volumes of liquid-between` successive pistonV portions will be successively `carried into andthrough` the lower cylinder and delivered into the chamberv as the receptacle slides downwardly v:on thememer ber Vand whereby .volumes of gasbetween succes-l sive piston portions willbevsuccessively vcarried'- out ofthe chamber. through the uppers-cylinder@ and into the container, and astop onsaid meme.l ber engageable-by-the1eading Vend ofthe lower wall as the receptacle slidesfdownwardlyatoglimt1 its downward l movement andvpreventthepistonij portions being pulledethrough the lower cylinder into said y chamber and also tol enable* there-s, ceptacle to be lifted out Vof the tank byfpulling' upwardly on-saidmember, said stop being de-I- tachable from-said 'member' to Y enable the lower most piston to bedrawn through :the lower'cylin der into the chamberto open such cylinder and` enable the samplein thechamber -tofbe` drawn oif. through the lower cylinder. 1 Y

A device for Vsamplingliquids; comprising, ia;- member', ladaptedfto be positioned in a contain--l er of the liquid-to be sampled so that itl-extends, downwardly Vthrough .the liquid; said v member having alongits length a series of longitudinally-fI spaced piston portions, which are Lof the same cross sectional shape andareaand .otherfponn tions of less cross sectional-area located-,one be-e tween Veach pair of .successive-piston portions; ,a receptacle consistingof a-peripheralwalland topand bottom walls at the ends ,of the Vperipheral l Number 8); wall, said walls affording betweenthem a. chambeiysaid end walls having cylinders, one in each which are of the same cross sectional shape and. area and of a shape and area to slidably nt thel piston portions Vand which are at least as great in lengthas the-spacing between successivepiston portions; said receptacle being closed except for said. cylinders, saidvreceptacleadapted to bemounted on said member with the latter extendingthrough the` top cylinder, said 4chamberand the Vbottom cylinder and with the cylinders slidably engaging the vsuccessivepiston portions as the receptacle slides downwardly on said member;

whereby volumesrof liquid between successive pis,v ton portions will besuccessively'carried into and` through the lower cylinder and delivered into theI chamber and volumes. of gas between successive pistonportions vwillbe successively carried out of the chamber through the upper cylinder .and into the container as the receptacle yslides downward,`

ly von theincmber, a stop oncsaid memberfengageable by the leading end ofthe lower end wall as the. receptacle slides downwardly tolimit its;l downward movement and prevent the pistonporf., tions being. pulled throughzlthe.lowercylnder into .saidchamber and .also to enable .the receptacle.- toibe liftedout Vof the .tank by:.-pulling upwardly, onsaid member, said stopbeing-zdetachableirom; said member to Aenable the lowermost'piston to be, drawn throughthelower cylindercinto the chame, ber toopen such, cylinder andgenable the Vsampleinthe chamber to. beidrawn; oi. through, such*- cylinder, a iiexible member` of lesscrosssectionf.. al; area and of greater length. thana cylinder and; connected at one end to the lower piston portion,', anda istop on the otherend orsaid exible mem-: ber of larger cross sectionalareathan a cylinder.'` said lflexible member andv stop preventing the piston-carrying member, from being drawn out ,1

0f said chamber. z;Y

5. `A device for samplingv liquidsy comprising, a.l

series of exibly interconnectedpistons.of the sameV cross sectional shape, and varea. Amounted in longitudinally spaced relation; and of `suiicient' length to extend downwardly; throughv the Iliquid to be sampled, and a yreceptacle consisting .of ai peripheral Wall and heads one'atf. each end of the peripheral" wall, and having@passages` theref through one in eachV forming -cylinders of, a cross sectional shape andarea 4to slida'bly fit the'pistons and of a length great enoughA toreceive at least intervening chamber. i f

EDWARD:D.=RAPISARDA.

i REFERENCES.. CITEDkv i The'following Vreferences are Yof record ln'the iile of this patent: f'

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